Die



Aug. 2, 193s. e. w. FREEMAN 2,325,494

DIE

Filed Aug. 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l @3% ul( @.wlne/ www 2 sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 2, 1938. B. 'w. FREEMAN DIE Filed Aug. 17, 1937 QM, uw

7/ khvgmwm. ..-y W A @'M@ m @f Patente-d Aug. 2, 1938 DIE Benjamin W. Freeman, Cincinnati,` Ohio Application August 17,

. 18 Claims.

.This invention relates 'tof shoe. machinery and more particularly to improvements in diesafor use in ornamenting shoe uppersand shoe vparts by the formation of patterns of, perforations. or cut outs in portions thereof.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention disclose dies'. particularly .adapted for-operation upon shoe upper blanks, fitted ors'closed uppers or .the like, in which the work is marked or: printed with an ink or pigment, preferably in liquid form, duringa single operation in which the Work is orlnamented by the perforatingror cutting out: of a design therein.

These dies, however, are by no means limited to combinations of marking and cutting,'.zbutmay.be used for either operation per se,..andithe:mark ing may be eiected solely by printing, or-,.by..in-

,denting the Work.

One embodiment illustratedI herein, shows the invention applied to a style of -die particularly; de-

,.signed for use in the type ofamachine disclosed :in

the Reissue Patent No.-20,294, granted March116,

'1937, to Benjamin W Freemanet al,:.andr inthe copending application of Benjamin W. Freeman,

:SerfNd 83,796,`led June k5, 1936.

The invention is also illustrated as; applied to flat bed dies adapted for use nornamenting `machines or presses of the Yiiat bedtype. This'type of die, While operable satisfactorily with various `conventional flat bed machines, is `also 'fwell adapted to use with the improved machine illustrated in a copending application of Benjamin-W.

Freeman, Ser. No. 11,277,1'lled November 25,1936.

"With many'forms of'work, the pressure requirements for perforating and for stripping are very heavy and the structures described in the aforesaid applications and patent are designed to meet fsuch requirements, particularly with relation to the stripping of the work from the die.

Conventional vstrippers usually include some 'mechanism associated with they die-unit, e. g.' a

stripper plate mounted on springs which normally serve to maintain the plate in' a position flush with, or slightly advanced from'` the plane ofthe `cutting edges of the die. The-spring pressure must be so adjusted as to'accommodateA varying thicknesses of leather r'or'material'on which the die operates, and diliculties arise in'thisconnection, especially when marking. edges. or. ribs are placed on the stripper plate. .'Ihus, inthe spring. pressure. is. adjusted. tomark and,.properly strip a light piece. of calf skin, it would` probably injure .a light piece of leather. Obviouslywhen the .material is, thicker, the stripper ,-will,r be de- 193'7, Serial 1No. 159,594

pressed more by suchl material, than 'Would:be the case With' thin leathers.

Varying pressures are required With `diierent characters of leather aswell fas .Withfndifferent thicknesses, andas theznumber. of cutoutsgand C 5 vperforations ini av piece of WorkV is increased; the Aneed for greater pressure'likewiseincreases :and such pressures are very difcult of attainment, .if not impossible .with 'conventional de :mounted stripping devices now in use.

Hence, when ay marking. plateis usedforthe two-fold purpose of marking and stripping,difficulties areY likely to arisein-thattoolheavy an ink impression will' be placed .upon the work; or .incomplete stripping will .'result, assuming that. 1a conventional type of. stripper pressure applying means is utilized. rAgain, there are :many .instances inwhich. itis desired to lplace.v a imarking :upon the Workin a spaced relation'toperforations, or to the exclusioniof.'perforations .and in -suchinstancesy itv isv not. necessary; to strip'tat all in regions yadjacentthemarking Since -an ink marking element shouldrnot indent, nor in any mannerperforatei the work,. it is 4merely necessary. to: effect a lightzprintingcon- .tact between the marking elements and thework. Howeven conventional stripping pressures re- 'quire'd for removing a piece of Work from the cutters are greater-than the pressure required for properly. printing or applying .an ink markto the 80 surface lof the Work. 'It is desirable that the ink .be kept .on the surfaceand not forced into. the -fibers of the .leather,anor"below thefinormalrsurface, in order to provide a nice lightlegiblef mark .which may easily be removed from thework, un-

der circumstances Where removalof such marks is found desirable. 'Toorgreat 'a-pressureF is also harmful in that too much' ink is applied, and the applied marks are apt tobeunnecessarily Wide and blurry,=aside from the danger; of injuring the .work

Even .in the absence of pressure diiliculties, when the marking elements 'are mounted on the stripper plate in a conventional manner, there is a tendency forf the'ink'to smear, `*when thework 1215 is stripped from the'die.

To the solution of these problems, the machine `of Reissue Patent No. 20,294, andl one form of the present invention, contemplate a stripping mechanism on the die, towhich. mechanism the presfsure..:isfapplied by an arrangement independent of the die, this being accomplished by building-Tia stripper pressure-applying means: into themachine as distinguished from-supplying eachindependentdie;.with. a completely; self-contained, 55

spring mounted stripping arrangement, olf con- Ventional nature.

The usual stripper plate, mounted in advance of the cutter, may be retained herein, wherever necessary, that is adjacent the cutting edges, but the marking elements are arranged independently of the stripper and operable in such a manner that the pressure required for stripping the work from the cutters is never applied to the marking portion of the die.

In those cases where the ink marking is applied without regard to perforating, the stripper plate may be eliminated and in the event that the pattern or design calls for periorations and markings side by side, the stripper plate may be only of such extent as is necessary to accommodate the cutter, and the marker may be left free.

Another embodiment of the invention, i. e., the application to a fiat bed die contemplates a selfcontained spring arrangement for applying stripper pressures to the stripper plate, but lbecause of the independence of stripper and marker plates, the stripper springs may be located at points remote from the marker, and so arranged as to apply the stripping pressure without any effect on the marker itself. The marker, which will be resiliently `mounted, may be supplied With light springs sufficient only for the purpose of providing a proper printing or marking pressure.

A primary object then of the present invention is the provision of a die with a structural design to facilitate the application of pressure to the stripper independently of the marker, or any marker pressure means, and with the stripper plate resiliently mounted for normal location ush or slightly advanced with respect to the plane of the cutting edges of the die, and so arranged that no real pressure will be exerted on the marker and hence on the work during a marking and/ or cutting operation.

Such application of pressure to the stripper, independently of the marker may be provided by a completely self-contained arrangement, as by the use of springs in the base of the die, or through the medium of an external source of pressure independent of the die'proper, or by a combination of both. The source of pressure for the marking plate preferably be entirely self-contained as by the use of springs built into the die.

Another object includes the provision of a stripper plate having a smooth flat work-engaging surface such that when it presses against the work to strip same from the die., there will be no danger of cutting the work, irrespective of the stripping pressures applied. This surface permits exertion of a great deal of pressure against the work, it being understood that the marking elements are mounted separately, on light springs so that they just press against the work during the marking operation sufficiently to lay the ink lightly on the surface of the material, yet springs as heavy as desired may be utilized, at the same time, for the stripper plate.

In the event that it becomes desirable to utilize a die in accordance with the present invention, without recourse to a printing medium such as ink or pigment, the same structure could be made to apply an impression mark, or indentation into the work, merely by increasing the amount of pressure applied to the marking element as by increasing the weight of the springs under the marker.

In the illustrated arrangements, the marker is shown with the marking elements extending through openings in the stripper plate, and. these elements are made higher than the thickness of the stripper plate so that there can be no question at any time of these marking edges failing to adequately contact the work. The base of the marker is also shown as underlying the stripping plate except for the openings through which the marking ribs extend, i. e., the plate portion of the marker extends between the die base and the stripper and this makes it unnecessary to cut large openings in the stripper plate through which the entire marker might protrude.

The spring mounted marking plate may press up into engagement with the under side of the stripper when the die is not operating; when the die is functioning, the work engages the marker and moves same independently of the stripper until the work and stripper contact each other. Thereafter the marker and stripper move together, out during this movement the under side of the stripper is not contacting the marking plate, as when the die is in its non-operating position.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan of a flat bed die unit;

Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation thereof, partly in section, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is an elevation of a different form of die;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation thereof, partly in section; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation partly in section of a modified type of mounting for the stripper and marker plates.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate. like parts, Figs. l to 3 illustrate the invention as applied to a fiat bed die. This die has a base or die block I0, provided with any conventional means (not shown) for securing the die in place in an ornamenting machine, and with a tube or cutter plate II, upon which is mounted a pattern of perforating tubes I 2 and cutters I3 which may be individually of varied design. The tubes and cutters are, of course, relatively arranged into ornamental patterns. A sub-plate I@ is shown, although not essential, interposed between the tube plate I I and the base or die block I It will be understood that the sub-plate Il-i and block I Il will be suitably perforated in a conventional manner to provide exits or openings for the escape of chips and cuttings from the tubes I2 and cutters I3.

Spiit pins or studs I Ii serve as snap fasteners to detachably support a stripper plate l'i in the die unit. This plate Il is shown positioned in a plane advanced with respect to the cutting edges of the tubes I2 and cutters I3. but it might readily be located substantially flush with such edges, and still strip effectively. Studs I9 similar to the studs I6, function to mount detachably a marker plate 233, which plate has engraved, or otherwise secured upon it, projecting ribs 2l, rthe exterior edges of which provide the Work engaging, marking surfaces of the marker. Although shown as ribs for the sake of illustration, it will be understood that any suitable protuberances may be used, if occasion demands.

The studs I6 are each formed with an enlarged base or bearing portion 23 slidable in a socket 24 in the block I0, each socket being of greater diameter than the cooperative opening through the tube and sub-plates, provided for 24 beneath the enlargementi23 .'isza: stripper :spring 25,.;andy by-suitably distributing and proportioningithese springmOuntingS, any desired degree: of stripping pressure may bey obtained.

:The studs` i9 for the marker plate are provid- .ed with enlarged bearing bases 26 which engage springs'l in sockets 28. "It willbenoted, however, that the springs` Z'I-are much lighter than the. stripper springs 25,.v and areproportioned to apply merely the proper degree ofvpressure to the marker 20, necessaryto printing. vrIhese springs also serve to position theribs 2! in ad- .vance of the .-.stripperplate and cutting edges, to permit the application of ink thereto without Vgetting any i-nk on the adjacent parts of the die.

'SWith this arrangement, and with the stripper VI'I arranged to overlie the markerplate `2i), it .will bequite evident that the resistance of the jmarker to the work is solely governed by the springs'Zl, `and that the stripper Il is free to exert any amount of pressure requiredv for stripping, and neither 'plate is influenced by the other,

-except for limitations of outward movement of the marker plate whichmay be imposed by the stripper plate. Thus in operation, and with a work piece in proper position, the marker will rst be depressed, the stripper will follow, and when Vthe operation is complete, the stripper will force the work off of the cutting members and tubes, and the marker will idle. along thereafter, it being immaterial whether the marker 2D actually engages the stripper on its under side, or not.

Referring now to Figs. Lland A5, there is illustrated a die of the type particularly vadapted for use in the machine described in Reissue Patent No. 20,294. This die, in a preferred form, comprises a ybase plate 3ll,.by means of which the unit is secured in an operating position in a machine. A dove-tailed wedge 3l, and a perforated lug or ear .32 may be mounted on the base plate to cooperate with suitable locking means in the machine, as described in said reissue patent.

Secured to the base plate by means of struts or sleeves 33 is a die block 34, upon which is mounted .a cutter or .tubeplate .35, the latter being suitably perforated at .the base of the Vtubes in a familiar manner to permit expulsion of chips or cuttings. A single block,` suitably apertured for exit of cuttings or chips .might be used in lieu of the base plate 3U and the die .block 34. However, spacing between the base plate -36 and the block 34 provides achamber for the reception of chips or cuttings. from the work, regardless of Whether the space is enclosed or not.

Further, the preferred .structure as described is more economical in manufacture, lighter in weight, and facilitates adjustment or variation in the height of the die plate. Hence, it will be seen that the preferred form is more desirable than the single block idea, Ywhich atter'is mentioned as an illustration-of what falls within the scope of the instant'invention.

In the illustrated embodiment the tubes 36 are arranged in spaced groups, and intermediate these groups is a marker comprising `a plate .31 having marked edges or; ribs. 38 thereon. The

plate 31 is resiliently mounted in the die. by split pins or snap studs 39 having enlarged bases or bearing portions 40 which slide `in certainof the sleeves 33, springs 4i being encased by the sleeves 33 normally to maintain the platev31 in a projected position. As in the case ofthe flat bed die, these springs are very-lightfno realpresstripper 'and marker.

lSure being'required againsttheplate 3l. In' fact,

where the die operates downwardly as illustrated,

lthe springs maybe omitted entirely and the -v.weightgotthe marking die will be sufficient to `:maintain it projected beyond theplane Vof the .'cuttingfedges, where it may be inked without .inkingithe cutting tubes or stripper.

However, in order to insure that the edges 38 are maintainedin advanced position, during inking and .inview of thefact that with some installations r:the .die may be reversed to operate upwardly, it is :preferred to use springs.

`Astripper .plate .42 is provided for the perforating members 36, this plate being carried by -split pins43 with bearing portions 44 which op- Aeratein .additional struts or sleeves 33; as in the case of the pins *39. However, the pins for the `stripper have extension 45 of a length to Vpermit projection thereof through the base plate `30, which is suitably perforated for the purpose. Relatively'heavyspringsnft encircle the extensions 45, within the sleeves.

'The purpose of the extensions 45 is to receive pressures developed in the machine for which lthe dieis designed, in a manner described in Reissue 20,294, and it will be evident that while any desired degree of pressure may be transmittedto the stripper'42 through these exten- 'sions45 that'just as in the case of the flat bed die, above described, there is a complete independence between the marker and the stripper, andthe relative operation of these elements is exactlyas described above. It will be further understood in connection with both forms of die that the arrangement orpattern of cutting ele- -ments, and the relation thereof to the marking -ribs is variable, to. accord with different runs of shoes.

Figf illustrates a modified mounting for the stripper:and marker respectively, at a location "between theltubes or cutter plate 9 and the .under side of the stripper 5U and marker 5I.

The sockets52 and^53 are accessible from the exteriorof the die block 54. This type of mounting while illustrated in connection with a flat '.bed. die is obviously applicable to other types of die.

From the foregoing description the operation .and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent.

iremovethecwork from the cutter.

.Many advantages, additionalto prevention of ink .smearing and work'injury, accrue in the vmanufacture Vof dies as herein described. Marking.` plates, stripping p1ates,and the like, may be .made in sections corresponding tothe work to .bezeutandmarked and may be provided with loperating surfaces lhaving portions higher at .various pointsv thanat others, thereby accommodat-ing-thedie to-laminated work,r such as appliques-.overlays foxings,vsaddles, andthe like,

In this mounting the Ysprings-41 and 48 encircle the split pins for the which in an assembled shoe upper, form a surface varying in level.

A marking plate made in sections will adjust itself readily to care for varying levels or thicknesses of the work without exerting greater pressures on high points than on low points of the work surface, and thus the marking will be uniform throughout. Again, an even distribution of pressure is attained, regardless of the particular die used, and tendency toward rocking or tilting of the stripper is-avoided. This prevents binding of the stripper plate with attendant failure to strip. Any desired degree of pressure for stripping may be applied.

If it is desired to use the die for marking purposes which do not require a separately applied medium, such as ink or pigment, merely increasing the strength of the marking springs 2T, 4| or i8 to provide a greater pressure against the respective'marking plates may be effected, and the work may then be marked by indenting or impressing the marking ribs into the Work, regardless of the pressures applied for stripping purposes.

It is, of course, not essential that a single die unit including both marking and cutting elements be provided, since the several marking and cutting sections might readily be made independent of each other, as in Fig. 4, or combined by arranging certain cutting members to project through the marking plate, as in Fig. 1.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention shown and described herein is intended as illustrative, rather than limiting, as many modifications within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the arrangement of any of the dies herein illustrated may be such as to cut up or down, the relative movement between the die and the work may be obtained by moving the die toward a fixed work support, or by moving the work to a relatively fixed die the die itself may be made with a single base plate or block, or with a die block spaced by struts from a base plate, as described herein. Hence, such terms as underside, overlying, top or bottom as used herein are to be regarded as descriptive, and not limiting.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

i. In a die of the class described, a base, cutting means mounted thereon, marking means independent of said cutting means also mounted on said base, and stripping means for said cutting means constructed and arranged for operation free and independently of said marking means, said marking means having a portion extending between said stripping means and said base, in normal juxtaposed relation to said stripping means.

2. In a die of the class described, a basel, cutting means mounted thereon, marking means independent of said cutting means also mounted on said base, and stripping means for said cutting means constructed and arranged for operation free and independently of said marking means, said marking means having a portion extending between said stripping means and said base, resilient means mounting said marking means and eiective to impart a light printing pressure thereto during operations on work, and toi hold said marking means normally in juxtaposed relation to said stripping means, and resilient means mounting said stripping means eiective to impart a relatively heavier pressure thereto for stripping purposes.

3. In a die of. the class described, a base, a plurality of cutting units on saidl base, a marking unit adjacent said units and stripping means for said cutting units arranged in spaced relation to said marking unit for operation independently thereof, said marking means having a portion extending between said stripping means and said base, in normal juxtaposed relation to said stripping means.

4. In a die of the class described, a base, a plurality of cutting units on said base, a marking unit adjacent said units and stripping means for said cutting units arranged in spaced relation to said marking unit for operation independently thereof, said marking means having a portion Vextending between said stripping means and said base, resilient means mounting said marking ieans and effective to impart a light printing pressure thereto during operations on Work, and to hold said marking means normally in juxtaposed relation to said stripping means, and resilient means mounting said stripping means effective to impart a relatively heavier pressure thereto for stripping purposes.

5. In a die of the class described, a base, a plurality of cutting units on said base, a marking unit adjacent said units, and common stripping means for all of said cutting units constructed and arranged to provide for free operation of vsaid marking unit therethrough, said stripping means having a portion extending over and across said marking unit, in normal juxtaposed relation to said stripping means, on the opposite side thereof from said cutting units.

6. In a die of the class described, a base, a plurality of cutting units on said base, a vmarking unit adjacent said units, and common stripping means for all of said cutting units constructed l and arranged to provide for free operation of said marking unit therethrough, said stripping means having a portion extending over and across said marking unit, on the opposite side thereof from said cutting units, resilient means mounting said marking means and effective to impart a light printing pressure thereto, during operations on work, and to hold said marking means normally in juxtaposed relation to said stripping means, and resilient means mounting said stripping means eiective to impart a relatively heavier pressure thereto for stripping purposes.

7. In a die of the class described, a base, a marking plate mounted resiliently thereon, cutting means on said base having a stripper plate superposed over said marking plate and yieldably mounted on said base, said marking plate and stripper plate being constructed and arranged for free movement independently of each other.

8. In a die of the class described, a base, a marking plate mounted resiliently thereon, cutting means on said base having a stripper plate superposed over said marking plate and yieldably mounted on said base, said marking plate and stripper plate being constructed and arranged for free movement independently of each other, the resilient mounting for said marking plate being of a strength sufiicient only to impart a light printing pressure thereto, and the yieldable mounting for said stripper plate being eiiective to impart a relatively heavier pressure thereto for stripping purposes.

9. In a die of the class described, a base, a

marking plate mounted resiliently thereon, and

provided With markerportions, cutting` means on said 4basehaving av stripper platel superposed 'over said markingl plate and yieldably mounted on said Lbase, said 1markingplateand=stripper\ plate` beingV constructed and farranged `for' free movementfindependentlyl of each other, said'stripper plate being-constructedfto at least'partially surround themarking portions ofv said markingl plate whereby said marking portions may operate freely therethrough.`

10;In' afdie ofVl the\-classdescrib'ed, a base, a marking plate-mounted resiliently'thereon, and' p-rovided With marker portions, cutting means on said lbasehaving a stripperplate superposed over said marking plate and yieldably mounted on said base, said marking plate and stripper plate being constructed and arranged for free movement independently of each other, said stripper plate being constructed to at least partially surround the marking portions of said marking plate whereby said marking portions may operate lfreely therethrough, the resilient mounting for said marking plate being of a strength suiicient only to impart a light printing pressure thereto, and the yieldable mounting for said stripper plate being effective to impart a relatively heavier pressure thereto for stripping purposes.

1l. A die of the class described comprising a base, cutting means on said base, marking means adjacent to and movable With relation to said cutting means, said marking means including marking elements adapted to receive ink, means resiliently mounting said marking elements on said base in a plane advanced with respect to that of the cutting means, said resilient mounting being proportioned and arranged to develop a pressure suiiicient only to provide a light contact of the marking elements with the Work piece during cutting movement, thereby to ink mark the Work piece as part of a single marking and cutting operation, a stripper for said cutting means positioned to overlie said marking means, and means resiliently mounting said stripper, said stripper mounting being proportioned and arranged to develop a pressure of greater intensity than that of said marking means.

12. A die of the class described comprising a base, cutting means on said base, a plate adjacent to and movable with relation to said cutting means, said plate being provided with marking elements adapted to ink mark the Work during a cutting operation, mounting means for said plate having an amplitude of movement greater than that portion of the cutting means of the die which must penetrate the Work in order to cut it, spring means resisting movement of said mounting means insufficiently to build up a pressure, during the penetration of work by said cutting means, greater than required for ink marking the Work Without penetrating or indenting the same, stripping means for said cutting means resiliently mounted for operable movement independently of said marking means, and positioned to overlie said marking means. p

13. A die of the class described comprising a base, cutting means on said base, a plate adjacent to and movable with relation to said cutting means, said plate being provided with marking elements adapted to ink mark the Work during a cutting operation, mounting means for said plate having an amplitude of movement greater than that portion of the cutting means of the die Winch must penetrate the Work in order to cut it, spring means resisting movement of said mounting means insuniciently to build up a pressure,during the penetrationf'of work by said cuttingmeans, g-reater than required for inkl marking-the Work Without penetrating or indentingthe same, strippingmeans for said 4cutting means resiliently mounted -for operable movementindependently ofsaid 'marking lmeans, and positioned to overlie said marking'A means, said resilient means for said stripping means being proportionedto developl pressures greater than the spring means for-said marking means.

14. A cuttingy and marking for use inV a cutting and markingY operation wherein means is provided for developing stripping pressures exclusive of the cutter and marker, comprising a base, cutting means on said base, marking means overlying and movable with relation to said cutting means, said marking means being formed With marking elements ,eiective to ink mark the work during a cutting operation, mounting means for said marking means having an amplitude of movement greater than that portion of the cutting means of the instrumentality which must penetrate the Work in order to cut it, and spring means resisting movement of said mounting means insuniciently to build up a pressure, during penetration of Work by said cutting means, greater than required for ink marking the work Without penetrating or indenting the same by said marking elements, stripping means positioned to overlie said marking means on the opposite side thereof from the cutting means, and operable independently of said marking means to remove the Work from the cutting means.

15. A flat bed die of the class described comprising a base, cutting means mounted thereon, marking means mounted on said base and stripping means for said cutting means also mounted on said base, means yieldably mounting said stripping means effective normally to position said stripping means in a plane beyond the plane of the cutting edges of said cutting means, and to develop during operation of the device, pressures sufiieient to strip a work piece from said cutting means, means resiliently mounting said marking means effective normally to position said marking means in a plane beyond the plane of said stripping means, and to develop during operation of the device, pressures suflicient only for marking purposes, said marking means having a portion underlying said stripping means.

16. A flat bed die of the type described cornprisng a base, cutting means on said base, marking means on said base positioned in a plane above said cutting means, stripping means for said cutting means mounted on said base and positioned in a plane above said marking means, said cutting means being constructed and arranged to permit operation of said marking means therethrough, means resiliently mounting said marking means independently of said stripping means and effective to apply to said marking means a pressure sufficient only for marking the work, and means resiliently mounting said stripping means eiiective to develop relatively greater pressures of a degree sufficient to strip the Work from the cutting means, said marking means and stripping means being operable independently of each other.

17. In a die of the class described, a base, cutting means mounted thereon, marking means independent of said cutting means also mounted on said base, and stripping means for said eutting means constructed and arranged for operation free and independently of said marking instrumentalittrv means, said marking means having a portion extending between said stripping means and said base, in normal juxtaposed relation to said stripping means, and means mounting said marking means in a position where ink may be applied thereto to the exclusion of saidY cutting'means and said stripping means. i

18. In a die of the class described, a base, cutting means mounted thereon, marking means independent of said cutting means also mounted on said base, and stripping means for said cutting means constructed and arranged for operation free and independently of said marking means, :said marking means having a portion extending between said stripping means and said base, in normal juxtaposed relation to said Ystripping means,V resilient means mounting saidiV marking means and effective to apply sufficient pressure l and yieldablefmeans mounting said stripping meansn eective to impart a relatively diierent 10 pressure to said stripping means sucient to remove the work from the cutting means BENJAMIr- W. FREEMAN. 

